Returning for 2025, the Local Wild Food Challenge returns as part of the Local Wild Food Festival.

Individual Cooking Challenge 2-4pm

Catch it | Cook it | Storybook it 

Create a dish using at least one wild food ingredient - from the land, sea, river or lake. Write a story about your adventures in the wild and what inspired you to create the dish. Prepare you dish on the day, or have it ready in advance (recommended) to present for judging. 

Manuhiri/visitors and local foodies (amateurs and pros) are welcome to enter the competition. Get the kids involved too. There are plenty of opportunities to win, with amazing prizes in each category!

Your dish will be judged by a panel of foodie experts! The judging and scoring system are designed to keep a level playing field for everyone - Professional and amateur alike, with even weighting of the four criteria: effort, taste, ingredients and presentation (see registration form below for more details) 

Adult prize categories for 2025 to be confirmed. The 2024 details were: 

• Grand prize: Weber Master Touch Kettle Charcoal BBQ
• Runner up: x4 Redwoods Altitude tickets
• Best Kai Māori: Weber Smokey Joe Charcoal BBQ
• Best use of local/ wild Ingredients: Handmade Knife
• Hemingway Award - Best Story: x2 Moutohora Island Sanctuary tour voucher
• Caroline Johnstone award - Most intriguing: 19L chilly bin, x4 Herbs & spices, Hunting and Fishing straw hat & trail finder bottle 

Kids prize categories for 2025 to be confirmed. The 2024 details were: 

• Best youth (13 - 17): Grand Prize: Tui Garden products
• Best Junior (up to 12 years): Kids Kayak
• Best Kai Māori (under 18): 50L Dry Bag, USB Rechargeable headlamp, Hunting and Fishing straw hat, Trail finder bottle and sunglasses, Herbs & spices 
• Best use of local/ wild ingredients (under 18): 50L Dry Bag, USB Rechargeable headlamp, Hunting and Fishing straw hat, Trail finder bottle and sunglasses, Herbs & spices 
• Hemingway Award - Best Story (under 18): $100 Prezzy card
• Caroline Johnstone award - Most intriguing (under 18): $100 VMAC voucher
• Spot prizes open to all Children's entries.

FREE ENTRY to the Local Wild Food Festival for all individual cooking challenge participants.

>> REGISTER FOR THE INDIVIDUAL COOKING CHALLENGE HERE <<

2-4pm: Present your dish for judging

5pm: Prizegiving

Team Mystery Box Cooking Challenge 5:30-7:30pm

Whether you are a local business, community group or team of family or friends the Local Wild Food Festival Mystery Box Challenge is for you!

The team Mystery Box Challenge was a highlight of the 2023 event. In teams of 3-4 members, you will be given a box of items thanks to the Fresh Market and Tio Ohiwa that you must use to create a dish to WOW the judges! 

Prizes include: Spa day for four, thanks to Polynesian Spa and a Surf Lesson for four, thanks to Salt Air Surf School!!

>> REGISTER FOR THE TEAM MYSTERY BOX CHALLENGE HERE <<

5:30pm: Mystery Box Round 1 - Tio Ohiwa

6:30pm: Mystery Box Round 2 - Fresh Market

7:30pm: Prizegiving